Mr. Campion,
I’m not sure there is even a columnist or commentator alive who could actually begin to “explain” this entire year or so in politics. (THE TRUMP SHOW—Issue: 7/27/16)
I have seen it all—I thought. I thought I had stomached all the craziness for 10 lifetimes over four or five or more presidents and presidential candidates. Even this year with 16 or 17 on the Republican side, many of whom were just totally out there, but what Donald Trump unfurled onto the world stage at his convention defies logic or explanation. It was pure theater, as you write, but more than that it was a window into our American soul, a place so dark and dreary, so weirdly maudlin it cannot be put into words. It must be SEEN. It can be felt, but you must SEE it.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is what makes the Trump Show, as you call it, so vital to our national discourse and national character. We have to have it all come out of the shadows like this every once in a while to remind us of the demons we could unleash when prompted. How we may act if pushed.
I think this is how I would comment on it. Yours was sufficient, but falls a bit short of aghast.
—G. Brilla
I tune in weekly to your rantings because… well… you pay me to. But I was enjoying this madness long before that. You are my Sportszone, consolidating the world of politics into a digestible and entertaining microwavable burrito. Along with the ensuing nightmares that accompany both. And as I have no intention of actually sitting through the finals of Wimbledon, or watching one excruciating minute of that nonsense, I now have gotten all I need to know about this year’s RNC without an ad pop-up or nary a burp of over processed “meat”. And for that I thank you.
—Doc Slater
I weep for this world.
—Bo Blaze
What about Frank Lutz’ focus group of independents? How do you go from “putting America” first to isolationism? How can you call Rudy Giuliani, who should have been president instead of George Bush, “spastic”? I know you’re a cynic, but did we watch the same convention? Did not Joe Biden and Barak Obama himself plagiarize worse than Mrs. Trump?
I don’t get why Hilary’s actions, lies and total betrayals don’t seem to be a big deal but Mrs. Trump copying a few lines from Mrs. Obama, which were also probably written by a speech writer, is?
WTF???
—Elizabeth Vengen Esq.
I think it is true that New York and by extension New Yawkers do get pigeon-holed as loud, obnoxious, ego-centric ethnic troublemakers. (NEW YAWK, NEW YAWK—Issue: 8/17/16) But then again, WE ARE!
But I was really turned on by your dissection of the envy other towns and of course cities have for New York. I never thought of it that way. But normally when people do paint us all with the same broad brush it is jealousy because it is the greatest city in the world and now the most powerful person in the world is coming from NY, by way of carpetbagger and native, but nevertheless both campaigns are run from Brooklyn and Manhattan, and there is a certain swagger to these candidates and their negative ratings have as much to do with their NY affiliation and the balls and braggadocio that comes with all of that, than their normally unappealing selves.
Good column. Learned a lot.
—DFgawkers8s
Right on the money. “…builds big things bigger than your things and so go fuck yourself.”
FUCKING CLASSIC!
—Al Quagliata
Haha! True dat! I like it!
—Laura DeBona
Dude,
Don’t count out Trump just yet. (LAST GASP FOR CITIZEN TRUMP—Issue: 8/24/16) He has the biggest campaign appearance draw numbers, he consistently wins online polls where people can voice their support in anonymity and his polling numbers are close to Madame Shoo-in and Assange has already said he has the October Surprises of all October Surprises in store for Killary.
I wouldn’t count this guy out just yet. As it gets closer and the party realizes we are serious about blowing up the GOP if they fuck Trump, they will begin to get in line. They will be forced to remember that we Trump supporters had voted for 2 turds (Romney and McCain) and now it’s their turn to get in line if they want the GOP to continue to be a national party.
Trump is running a great outsider campaign. People are pissed off because he isn’t acting like a politician. That’s a good thing. If I wanted a hack politician, I would have supported Jeb Bush or Ted Cruz.
I would advise you to get the hot sauce or ketchup to make your words a tad more palatable.
Peace,
—Bill Roberts
I have a differing view on Trump’s latest and greatest changes in his campaign staff. I think perhaps this is a way to deflect some of his missteps and throw it on surrogates and staffers and although it is excusing them, it is a sound political move.
In a weird way Trump has had about nine lives already throughout this thing. His biggest hurdle of course, and this is true of any Republican, is the general election. He is behind the eight ball, no doubt, but again, I think his message overall, beyond the racist rants and terrible gaffs and ridiculous tweeting and his inability to have any real and sound plan for the country beyond, “I’m great, they suck, elect me and trust I’ll get stuff done”, resounds for many, many Americans.
If this is a change election, which I still think it is, and he is the only change candidate and people really are sick of DC and sick of stagnation and bad trade deals and are afraid of ISIS and Russia and want a big, bad bully to step in, then Trump is still that.
And I believe that never makes him completely done.
Although he is damn close.
—Jeffery K.
God—you can write your ass off.
—Kacey M.
You’re an idiot. Trump’s an idiot. Hillary is an idiot. The media is filled with idiots. The electorate is idiotic and I am definitely an idiot.
So Trump ain’t done, pal. Not by a long shot.
—SAL
Do yourself no favors and “like” this idiot at www.facebook.com/jc.author
James Campion is the Managing Editor of The Reality Check News & Information Desk and the author of “Deep Tank Jersey”, “Fear No Art”, “Trailing Jesus”, “Midnight For Cinderella” and “Y”. His new book, “Shout It Out Loud—The Story of KISS’s Destroyer and the Making of an American Icon” out now!
